S*0359 Resolution, By Sheheen and McElveen
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SHERIFF JIM MATTHEWS OF KERSHAW
 COUNTY FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM
 ON BEING NAMED THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION'S 2014 "SHERIFF OF THE
 YEAR."

   01/27/15  Senate Introduced and adopted (Senate Journal-page 12)

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR SHERIFF JIM MATTHEWS OF KERSHAW COUNTY FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TO CONGRATULATE HIM ON BEING NAMED THE SOUTH CAROLINA SHERIFFS' ASSOCIATION'S 2014 "SHERIFF OF THE YEAR."

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is pleased to learn that Kershaw County Sheriff Jim Matthews was honored as the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association's 2014 Sheriff of the Year at the association's annual conference in Myrtle Beach in July 2014; and

Whereas, nominated by Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott for his work with improving response times, increasing DUI enforcement, and offering greater accessibility to deputies for the public, Sheriff Matthews has served Kershaw County as sheriff since 2011; and

Whereas, prior to becoming sheriff, he served as a narcotics investigator with both the Richland and Lexington counties sheriffs' offices and the Columbia Police Department. He was a member of the SWAT Team for the Lexington County Sheriff's Office and a deputy coroner in the Richland County Coroner's Office; and

Whereas, Sheriff Matthews served as a special agent and agent in charge for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (US DEA), handling high-level, federal drug investigations for sixteen counties in South Carolina. He also led an elite, counter-narcotics unit in Thailand, which targeted Asian heroin traffickers. He did extensive undercover work in Florida, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Central America. During his time with the US DEA, he also worked as an instructor at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, and as an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia; and

Whereas, among his many professional honors and awards, Sheriff Matthews received the Strom Thurmond Excellence in Law Enforcement Award in 2013, the J. P. Strom Award from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, and the Governor's Twenty Award from the South Carolina Police Combat Firearms Competition. He was a DEA Basic Agent Training "Top Student" for academics and physical training, and he placed first at the NRA Practical Police Combat National Championships, Marksman Division; and

Whereas, married to Heather Hoopes-Matthews, Sheriff Matthews is the proud father of three fine children and six grandchildren and is a member of First Baptist Church of Camden; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate finds it fitting to honor Sheriff Matthews for his many years of public service to the citizens of Kershaw County and the State of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Sheriff Jim Matthews of Kershaw County for his outstanding career in law enforcement and congratulate him on being named the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association's 2014 "Sheriff of the Year."

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Sheriff Jim Matthews.